Box of Tricks and Sky Studios are on the hunt for Northern talent. Their inaugural Screen/Play Award launches to unearth two writers from the North of England with electrifying stories that spark the imagination.

Each writer will be awarded a bursary to write a brand new play and a short screenplay – inspired by a single central idea – to be developed with Box of Tricks and Sky Studios’ Innovation Hub throughout 2021. They’re looking for stories with the scope and ambition to be realised on both stage and screen, stories that embrace the infinite imaginative possibilities of each medium and reflect the world in which we live.

At a time when our industry faces the greatest crisis of a generation and stands to lose a wealth of talent, Screen/Play shines a light on voices that need to be heard and stories that need to be told. They want to champion Northern writers with no professional TV experience from communities currently underrepresented on stage and screen.

Each writer will receive £10,250 each with an exclusive option for Box of Tricks to produce the stage play in a future season. All 15 shortlisted writers will be invited to take part in exclusive online Masterclasses exploring their craft and the world of screenwriting with industry experts.

Deadline

Friday 6 November 2020.

a shortlist of 15 writers will be announced in December 2020.

5 finalists will then be announced in January 2021 and meet the Panel to pitch their idea via Zoom.

After online interviews, our two Screen/Play writers will be selected by our industry panel and announced in early 2021.

Award Criteria

•  Writers must be aged 18 or over. There is no upper age limit.
• Writers must be resident in the North of England. If not currently resident, writers must be able to demonstrate strong links to the North and a commitment to making work in the region.
• Writers must have no professional screenwriting experience. That is, writers must have never been paid to write for television/film.
• Writers must be from a community currently underrepresented on stage and screen:
  • D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent writers
  • LGBTQ+ writers
  • Writers of colour
  • First generation migrant writers
  • Writers from a low socioeconomic background

Launch Event
Zoom | Wednesday 14 October at 12pm

https://boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk/screenplay/